Are you about to pull the trigger on a new camera? How about a shiny RED Raven? Well, wave good-bye to modularity because from now on you will have to buy the so-called RED Raven Camera Kit and – wait for it – you’ll have to hop over to Apple.com.
Ahhh, buying decisions. If you, like me, are on the hunt for a new camera package, then you know the feeling. “Which model should I get?”, “Isn’t that one outdated already?”, “I really can’t get any decent footage from my current camera!”, “What if there’s an upgraded version available in 3 months?”. This state of mind is called Next Camera Disorder (source: Maschwikipedia | Prolost.com).
The available choices has just grown larger with the introduction of the RED Raven Camera Kit, which will sell exclusively through Apple.com. The downside is that you have to get the whole package. You can’t get just the RED Raven Brain any more except for a few remaining stocked units from retailers.
The RED Raven Camera Kit
This is part of a new partnership between RED and Apple – you may have noticed that if you hit shop now while browsing RED’s webpages, you’ll be redirected to Apple.com. If you do choose to buy this Kit, here’s what you’ll get for your $14,999.95 investment:
RED RAVEN 4.5K camera BRAIN
RED DSMC2 Touch LCD 4.7” Monitor
RED DSMC2 Outrigger handle
RED V-Lock I/O expander
RED MINI-MAG 120GB
Two IDX DUO C-95 batteries with charger
G-Technology ev Series MINI-MAG reader
Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC lens
NANUK heavy-duty camera case
Final Cut Pro X
foolcontrol iOS app for RAVEN Camera Kit
RED Raven vs RED Raven Camera Kit
So the big question is: Is this package really worth $15,000? Let’s get out a calculator and do the math!
The RED Raven brain with an EF mount and the media bay sells for $8,950 (via AbelCine.com, backordered). In order to see anything, you’ll need the DSMC2 Touch LCD 4.7” Monitor for another $1.450. Also, being able to hold your new camera package would be nice. How about the DSMC2 Outrigger handle for $550? Alright, so far so good.
Next we need some power supply for this thing. Throw in two IDX DUO C-95 batteries and a charger ($645), and while we’re at it maybe also a V-Lock I/O expander for convenient I/O (and another convenient $1,900). Roger that, moving on. We need some recording media! A 120 GB Mini-Mag ($850) will do it for now. And a G-Tech Mini-Mag reader, of course ($199.95).
Alright, almost there. The final thing we need is a lens. This RED Raven Camera Kit forces us to buy the Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC lens, which would add another $799 to our virtual shopping bag. A NANUK case clocks in at around $320.
In order to edit the footage on that Mini-Mag we’ll get Final Cut Pro X for another $299.99. Lastly, the foolcontrol iOS app would be nice to have. Let’s put it in our bag for, actually, $0. The RED Raven edition comes for free!
All that gear adds up to a whooping $15,963.94, but you can get the whole package through Apple for $14,999.95. Since the discount obviously isn’t that great, the question is: do you really need all this? Do you really need that Sigma lens or those IDX batteries? Most of our readers already own a certain amount of gear so it may not be the right fit for everyone. Also, modularity is out of the question as you are limited to buying that exact kit as is. If you want to get a complete turnkey package, though, this might be the way to go.
You are also more than welcome to buy extra modules, though. These are still available at RED.com, as the collaboration between Apple and RED is limited to this RED Raven Camera Kit only.
Reactions and Comments
What are the reasons for this collaboration you might ask. Let’s hear it from RED’s Mr Jarred Land himself:
You can read the whole discussion here.
Now that’s interesting. Hopefully Apple will meet the (huge) expectations once the new Mac Pro platform is announced. Another nice benefit of this collaboration is the fact that the RED Raven Camera Kit seems to be in stock for immediate dispatch.
same Facebook discussion. (link)
Many RED customers are used to deal with long waiting lists, backordered cameras and accessories. This seems to be over now, at least for the RED Raven.
Links: RED.com | Apple.com
What do you think? Is this camera kit something you would buy? Share your thoughts in the comments below!